Heat pump with optimized filter assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat pumps lack a filter arrangement that allows for easy replacement and integration of bypass volume flow, particularly in systems where fine filtering of the bypass volume flow has not been feasible.

Innovation Solution

A filter arrangement comprising a filter slide box with mutually insulated chambers for supply and exhaust air filters, allowing for simultaneous replacement and featuring a sealing concept to separate air flows, with a sandwich design of coarse and fine filters, and a sealing lip to guide air through different filters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If filters are separated into coarse and fine filters at different positions in supply and exhaust air streams, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of replacement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering effectivenessVSAvoidfilter arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple filters (coarse and fine filters for both supply and exhaust air) into a single integrated filter box assembly. This allows all filters to be replaced simultaneously as one unit, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining the filtering effectiveness of having separate coarse and fine filtration stages for different air streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter box is divided into separate chambers for supply air and exhaust air filters, with each chamber containing appropriate coarse and fine filters. This segmentation allows independent filtering of different air streams while maintaining a unified replaceable assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple filters are distributed at different positions, then filtering performance is improved, but ease of operation for filter replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering performanceVSAvoidfilter replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

All filters are merged into a single filter box that can be removed and replaced as one complete unit. The filter box contains all necessary filters (coarse and fine for supply and exhaust air) arranged in separate chambers, allowing maintenance personnel to replace all filters in a single operation rather than accessing multiple distributed locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If bypass volume flow is not integrated with filtration, then system simplicity is maintained, but airflow efficiency and filtering completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidairflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter box is designed to handle multiple air streams (supply air and exhaust air) and multiple flow paths (filtered and bypass) within a single integrated structure. The bypass volume flow is incorporated into the filter box design, allowing the same filtration assembly to serve both filtered and bypass air paths, thereby improving airflow efficiency without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy and effective replacement of all filters in a single operation, enhances airflow efficiency by separating and filtering supply and exhaust air streams, and maintains system performance by preventing airflow restriction.

Implementation Method 1

The filter slide box has a seal separating a supply air chamber and an exhaust air chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical separation:

Implementation Method 2

the supply air filter and the exhaust air filter are contained in mutually insulated chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4636324A1Heat pump with optimized filter assembly
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 STIEBEL ELTRON GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4636324A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4636324A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4636324A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a heat pump with a supply air filter in a supply air ventilation duct (11) and an exhaust air filter in an exhaust air ventilation duct (12), wherein the supply air filter and the exhaust air filter are contained in mutually insulated chambers (14, 15) of a filter slide box (10) mounted in an externally accessible inlet/removal duct of the heat pump, which filter slide box crosses the supply air ventilation duct (11) with one of the chambers (14, 15) and the exhaust air ventilation duct (12) with the other of the chambers (14, 15), and which is arranged so as to be removable from the heat pump for replacing the supply air filter and the exhaust air filter.